Electronic path entering for autonomous or semi-autonomous trailer backing

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises initiating a path input mode on an electronic input device associated with an electronic control unit in the vehicle. An intended backing path is input into the electronic control unit by defining the intended backing path with an input control mechanism for the electronic input device. The path input mode on the electronic input device is ended.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to automotive vehicles and moreparticularly to advance driver assistance systems for automotivevehicles.

BACKGROUND

Backing of trailers attached to vehicles often requires multiple personsto effectively control the vehicle and direct the path the vehicle andtrailer are required to travel. Additionally, those unaccustomed tooperating vehicle and trailer systems may have some difficulty inaccurately controlling the path of the trailer, particularly whenbacking the vehicle and trailer.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent it is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure.

SUMMARY

A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailerassembly comprises initiating a path input mode on an electronic inputdevice associated with an electronic control unit for a trailer backingsystem. An intended backing path is input into the electronic inputdevice by defining the intended backing path with an input controlmechanism for the electronic input device. The path input mode on theelectronic input device is ended.

A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailerassembly comprises initiating a path input mode with a voice command toan electronic input device associated with an electronic control unitfor a trailer backing system. An intended backing path is input into theelectronic input device by voice command instructions. The path inputmode on the electronic input device is ended with a voice command.

A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailerassembly comprises initiating a path input mode on an electronic inputdevice associated with an electronic control unit for a trailer backingsystem. An intended backing path is input into a handheld electronicdevice by moving the handheld electronic device over the intendedbacking path. The intended backing path is input into the electronicinput device from the handheld electronic device. The path input mode onthe electronic input device is ended.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a vehicle andtrailer assembly having a trailer backing system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a method of utilizing the trailerbacking system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a vehicle andtrailer assembly having a trailer backing system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an input device for the secondembodiment of the trailer backing system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a method of utilizing the trailerbacking system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a vehicle andtrailer assembly having a trailer backing system of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a method of utilizing the trailerbacking system of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposesof clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings toidentify similar elements. FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 and a trailer11. The trailer 11 is controllably secured to the vehicle 10 to form avehicle and trailer assembly 12. The vehicle and trailer assembly 12utilizes a trailer backing program 14 of the present invention.Throughout the application the relative directions of forward and rearare in reference to the direction which an operator for the vehicle 10would be facing when operating the vehicle 10 in a drive gear.Therefore, in operation of the trailer backing program 14 the vehicle 10would be in a reverse gear and the operator may be facing backward. Thetrailer backing program 14 provides the vehicle operator with a methodof electronically defining an intended backing path 18 of the vehicleand trailer assembly 12. The trailer backing program 14 utilizes theintended backing path 18 to control movement of vehicle and trailerassembly 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment for utilizing the trailerbacking program 14 is described. An electronic input device 16 iselectronically connected to the vehicle 10 and the trailer backingprogram 14. The trailing backing program 14 includes a control unit 22within the vehicle 10. The control unit 22 may be connected to at leastone vehicle system 24 such as a powertrain system, a steering systemand/or a brake system to control and direct movement of the vehicle andtrailer assembly 12. The control unit 22 sends instructions to thevehicle systems 24 to move the vehicle and trailer assembly 12 along theintended backing path 18 to a final location 20. The steering, braking,and other controls are calculated by the control unit 22 based upon theintended backing path 18 input by the vehicle operator.

The electronic input device 16 includes an input control mechanism 26and a display screen 28. The electronic input device 16 may beincorporated into the vehicle 10. For example, the electronic inputdevice 16 may include a control panel and display screen 28 alreadywithin the vehicle 10, e.g. part of a navigation system or entertainmentunit, or may be a separate device, such as a hand-held navigationsystem, that is electrically connected to the vehicle 10. The electronicinput device 16 may also be partially incorporated into the vehicle 10such as the display screen 28, but have a separate input controlmechanism 26. The input control mechanism 26 may be a joystick, knob,slider device, physical buttons, virtual “touch screen” buttons,handheld electronic device such as a “smart phone” or voice controlinputs. The electronic input device 16 may be connected through a wiredconnection, such as a USB connector, or may be wirelessly linked withthe vehicle 10. The input control mechanism 26 may control an on-screenlocator 40 on the display screen 28.

The display screen 28 may illustrate a schematic or image of an arealocated behind the vehicle and trailer assembly 12. The on-screenlocator 40 may be initially positioned at an initial location, e.g. at arear position of the vehicle and trailer assembly 12. The input controlmechanism 26 can be used to define and/or control the vehicle andtrailer assembly's intended backing path 18 by pressing physicalbuttons, “touch screen” buttons, or by detecting movement of the inputcontrol mechanism 26 and measurement of internal accelerometers and/orgyroscope. This could also be completed by using voice controls or ajoystick type device to move the on-screen locator 40 on the displayscreen 28 to outline the intended backing path 18. Therefore, the inputcontrol mechanism 26 can be manipulated to move the on-screen locator 40on the display screen 28 to outline the intended backing path 18. Thetrailer backing system 14 would determine from the input the actualdistances and movements required to direct the vehicle and trailerassembly 12 to follow the intended backing path 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a method of using the trailerbacking system 14, shown at 29. The path input mode for the trailerbacking system 14 is initiated, step 30. A vehicle operator would usethe input control mechanism 26 to input an intended backing path 18 forthe vehicle and trailer assembly 12 into the electronic input device 16,step 32. The intended backing path 18 would include the suggestedbacking route and a final parking position 20. The input controlmechanism 26 may be utilized to input the intended backing path 18 bysuccessively inputting each leg of a suggested route. For example, theinput control mechanism 26 may be a joystick or knob that is part of thevehicle navigation and entertainment unit. The input control mechanism26, e.g. joystick, knob, etc, can be manipulated to move the on-screenlocator 40 over each successive leg of the intended backing path 18. Theintended backing path 18 would include the suggested backing route and afinal parking position 20. The vehicle operator would indicate once thecomplete backing path is entered by ending the path input mode, step 34.Once the intended backing path 18 is entered into the trailer backingprogram 14 the vehicle operator would instruct the trailer backingsystem 14 to follow the intended backing path 18, step 36. The trailerbacking system 14 would send instructions to the vehicle systems 24 todirect the vehicle and trailer assembly 12 along the intended backingpath 18 to the final position 20, step 38.

Alternately, each leg of the intended backing path 18 may be entered andthe trailer backing system 14 may move the vehicle and trailer assembly12 to that location prior to entering the next leg of the intendedbacking path 18. This may be accomplished by repeating steps 30-38 foreach leg of the backing path 18.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate a second embodiment of a trailer backing system 114for a vehicle 110 and trailer 111 which are connected together to form avehicle and trailer assembly 112. The trailer backing program 114provides the vehicle operator a method of defining the intended backingpath 118 of the vehicle and trailer assembly 112. An electronic inputdevice 116 is electronically connected to the vehicle 110 and thetrailer backing program 114. The trailing backing program 114 includes acontrol unit 122 within the vehicle 110 connected to at least onevehicle system 124 such as a powertrain system, a steering system and/ora braking system to control and direct movement of the vehicle andtrailer assembly 112.

The electronic input device 116 includes an input control mechanism 126and may include a display screen 128. The electronic input device 116may be incorporated into the vehicle 110. For example, the electronicinput device 116 may include a control panel and display screen 128already within the vehicle 110, e.g. part of a navigation system orentertainment unit, or may be a separate device. The electronic inputdevice 116 may also be partially incorporated into the vehicle 110 suchas the display screen 128, but have a separate input control mechanism126. The input control mechanism 126 is preferably a voice controlsystem, shown in FIG. 4. The input control mechanism 126 may control anon-screen locator 140 on the display screen 128.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an input control mechanism 126 thatis a voice control system. The voice control system 126 may be connectedto or partially incorporated with other vehicle 110 devices forperforming various vehicle 110 functions. The other devices 142 a-e thatmay be electronically connected include, for example, a telephone 142 a,a navigation system 142 b, an audio system 142 c, a CD changer, 144 d,or an HVAC system 144 e. The voice control system 126 includes aninterface 141, the audio input 146 and an audio output 144 for thevehicle 110. The interface 141 converts the audio input 146 from thevehicle operator into an electrical signal that can be used by thetrailer backing system 114 and/or other devices 142 a-e. Additionally,the interface 141 converts the electrical signals from the trailerbacking system 114 and other devices 142 a-e to an audio output 144 forthe vehicle operator.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, a second embodiment of a method of using thetrailer backing system 114 is shown at 129. A vehicle operator would usethe voice controlled input control mechanism 126 to input an intendedbacking path 118 for the vehicle and trailer assembly 112. The pathinput mode for the trailer backing system 114 is initiated, step 130.From within the passenger compartment a vehicle operator would use thevoice controlled input control mechanism 126 to input an intendedbacking bath 118 for the vehicle and trailer assembly 112, step 132.Simple directions and distances may be used for voice input of theintended path 118, e.g. “back 10 feet”, “stop”, “turn right 90 degrees”,“final position”. The “on-screen” locator 140 may move to illustrate theposition of the vehicle and trailer assembly 112 while also followingthe voice instruction from the vehicle operator.

The vehicle and trailer assembly 112 would follow each instruction asspoken and recorded by the input device 142. After the instruction fromthe vehicle operator is complete the path input mode is ended, step 134.After each step is entered into the trailer backing program 114 thetrailer backing system 114 follows the instructions along the intendedbacking path 118, step 136. The trailer backing system 114 would sendinstructions to the vehicle system 124 to direct the vehicle and trailerassembly 112 along the intended backing path 118, step 138. By repeatingthe steps 130-138 the vehicle and trailer assembly 112 may be moved to adesired final parking position 120.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrates a third embodiment of a trailer backing system214 for a vehicle 210 and trailer 212 which are connected together toform a vehicle and trailer assembly 214. The trailer backing program 214provides the vehicle operator a method of defining an intended backingpath 218 of the vehicle and trailer assembly 212.

An electronic input device 216 is connected to the vehicle 210 and thetrailer backing program 214. The trailing backing program 214 includes acontrol unit 222 within the vehicle 210 connected to at least onevehicle system 224 such as a powertrain system, a steering system and/ora braking system to control and direct movement of the vehicle andtrailer assembly 212.

The electronic input device 216 includes an input control mechanism 226and a display screen 228. The electronic input device 216 may beincorporated into the vehicle 210. The electronic input device 216 maybe partially incorporated into the vehicle 210 such as the displayscreen 228, but has a separate input control mechanism 226. For example,the electronic input device 216 may include a control panel and displayscreen 228 already within the vehicle 210, e.g. part of a navigationsystem or entertainment unit. The input control mechanism 226 is ahandheld electronic device and may alternatively include the displayscreen 228. The handheld electronic device 226 may be a smart phone, aPDA, a handheld GPS, a key-fob, etc.

The handheld electronic device 226 may control an on-screen locator 240on the display screen 228. The handheld electronic device 226 may beconnected through a wired connection, such as a USB connector, or may bewirelessly linked with the electronic input device 216.

A control unit 222 within the vehicle 210 may be connected to at leastone vehicle system 224 such as a powertrain system, a steering systemand/or a braking system to control and direct movement of the vehicleand trailer assembly 212. The trailer backing system 214 could bedesigned to work real-time in which the vehicle and trailer assembly 212follows the handheld electronic device 226 while the operator is walkingthe path 218. Alternatively, the trailer backing system 214 could bedesigned to work only after the path 218 has been mapped completely;allowing the person to first return to the vehicle 210.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of a method of utilizing thetrailer backing system 214 of FIG. 6. A vehicle operator or passengerexits the vehicle 210 with the handheld electronic device 226 in hand.When arriving at the back of the trailer 212, the operator initiates thepath input mode on the handheld electronic device 226, step 230 andproceeds to walk the intended backing path 218, step 232. When theoperator arrives at the desired final parking position 220 for the backof the trailer, the path input mode is ended, step 234.

Once the intended backing path 218 is entered into the trailer backingprogram 214 the vehicle operator would instruct the trailer backingsystem 214 to follow the intended backing path 218, step 236. Thetrailer backing system 214 sends instructions to the vehicle system 224to direct the vehicle and trailer assembly 212 along the intendedbacking path 218 to the final parking position 220, step 238. Thetrailer backing system 214 autonomously (driver not behind the wheel) orsemi-autonomously (driver behind the wheel) controls the lateral andlongitudinal motion of the vehicle and trailer assembly 212 to followthe path 218 which was mapped out by the handheld electronic device 226.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been describedin detail the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited,since those familiar with the art to which this invention relates willrecognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing theinvention within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailerassembly comprising: initiating a path input mode on a electronic inputdevice associated with an electronic control unit for a backing system;inputting an intended backing path by defining the intended backing pathwith an input control mechanism for the electronic input device; andending the path input mode on the electronic input device.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising instructing at least one vehicle systemwith the electronic control unit to move the vehicle and trailerassembly along the intended backing path to a final vehicle and trailerassembly position.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps ofinitiating the path input mode, inputting the intended backing path,ending the path input mode, and instructing the least one vehicle systemare repeated for each leg of the intended backing path prior to movingthe vehicle and trailer assembly on a successive leg of the intendedbacking path.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting an intendedbacking path with the input control mechanism further comprises usingone of a joystick, a roller ball, a knob, a slide device, at least onephysical button, at least one touch screen button, a handheld electronicdevice, and voice control inputs to define the intended backing path. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein inputting the intended backing pathfurther comprises controlling a locator on a display screen of theelectronic input device with the input control mechanism to move thelocator over the display screen thereby defining each leg of theintended backing path.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting theintended backing path further comprises entering each leg of theintended backing path prior to inputting a successive leg of theintended backing path.
 7. A method of controlling a backing system for avehicle and trailer assembly comprising: initiating a path input modewith a voice command to an electronic input device associated with acontrol unit for a backing system; inputting an intended backing path byvoice command instructions input to the electronic input device; andending the path input mode with a voice command to the electronic inputdevice.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising instructing atleast one vehicle system with the electronic control unit to move thevehicle and trailer assembly along the intended backing path to a finalvehicle and trailer assembly position
 9. The method of claim 7, whereininputting an intended backing path according to voice commandinstructions further comprises a separate voice command for each leg ofthe intended backing path.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein inputtingan intended backing path according to voice command instructions furthercomprises utilizing a relative direction and a distance input for eachleg of the backing path.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein inputting anintended backing path according to voice command instructions furthercomprises directing an on-screen locator with the voice commands todefine each leg of the backing path.
 12. A method of controlling abacking system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprising: initiatinga path input mode on a electronic input device associated with a controlunit for a backing system; inputting an intended backing path into ahandheld electronic device by moving the handheld electronic device overeach leg of the intended backing path; inputting the intended backingpath into an electronic input device from the handheld electronicdevice; and ending the path input mode on the electronic input device.13. The method of claim 12, further comprising instructing at least onevehicle system with the electronic control unit to move the vehicle andtrailer assembly along the intended backing path to a final vehicle andtrailer assembly position.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising confirming an operator is in a driver seat for the vehicleprior to instructing the at least one vehicle system with the electroniccontrol unit to move the vehicle and trailer assembly.
 15. The method ofclaim 12, wherein inputting an intended backing path into the electronicinput device from the handheld electronic device further compriseselectronically connecting the handheld electronic device to theelectronic input device with a wireless connection.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, wherein ending the path input mode occurs prior to inputtingthe intended backing path into an electronic input device from thehandheld electronic device.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereininputting an intended backing path into the electronic input device fromthe handheld electronic device further comprises electronicallyconnecting the handheld electronic device to the electronic input devicewith a wired connection between the handheld electronic device and theelectronic input device.